R+J Essay

Romeo and Juliet

Draft 1

Literary Essay

            The tale of Romeo and Juliet has many twists and turns, but the twists and turns that make up the character of Mercutio are far greater. A kinsman of the prince and a close friend of Romeo, he adds so much to the story in just the four scenes he is in. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is the tale of two star-crossed lovers, bound apart by a family feud. Slowly the feud grows violent and Mercutio and Tybalts’ deaths trigger a new level of hate between the families. I think that Mercutio’s death teaches the reader a lot, but most importantly that haste leads to tragedy. His cunning yet humorous attitude teaches the reader a lot about what’s important in life and what isn’t.

            Mercutio teaches the reader a lot about love. He constantly makes fun of love and Romeo’s emotional swings. He makes fun of love through lines with hidden sexual meanings. For example he says, “That’s as much to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams” in one scene where Romeo tells Mercutio and Benvolio about his night with Juliet. By hams, Mercutio means hamstrings. He is stating that Romeo had to “bow his hams” implying he had sex with Juliet. This is one example of Mercutio mocking Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. This line shows how Mercutio believes that when a man talks of love what he actually is thinking about is sex. That is the only appeal of love to a man. This is one example of Mercutio teaching the reader about love through hidden meanings.

            Mercutio is also very wise. He makes a lot of Jokes and likes to tease people, but in the end he cares a lot about Romeo and has a lot of good advice. In one scene, the two roughhouse on the ground just like “old times”. This is the first part in the whole story where Romeo hasn’t been moping about Rosaline or talking about love.  Mercutio offers Romeo some insight and shows him how talking with friends is better than groaning of love. “Is not this better than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo, now art thou what thou art?” This is an example of Mercutio showing Romeo that friends are more important than women. This line is wise and thoughtful and shows how much Mercutio cares about his friend Romeo.

            Both of these examples prove one center message. That Mercutio has a great influence on the characters of this story. After Mercutio’s death, Juliet and Romeo think too fast. They want to move far away and they already have gotten married. Rather than taking their time, their impatience leads to Romeo not receiving a vital message and poisoning himself, and Juliet “killing” herself to avoid being married to Paris. As you can see, Mercutio has a vital role in trying to teach Romeo to be patient and have fun.

In closing, you can see how important the role of Mercutio is. He teaches a valid point in showing that haste leads to tragedy. His death leads to Romeo killing Tybalt without thinking of the consequences. I think people should listen to Mercutio and pay close attention to the hidden meaning beneath his words.

The Fall of Rome

Reading Response


     I am reading "The Fall of Rome" by Martha Southgate. This fascinating novel tell three simultaneous stories of three people all related in a number of ways. They are all connected by the boarding school that two teach at and one is enrolled at. The all boy's boarding school is new to a recent divorcee from Cleveland escaping back home to Connecticut after she feels romantic towards a student. It is also new to a boy from New York City ghetto who never dreamed of as good an education as the boarding school offers. However, a veteran, Mr. Washington who has taught Latin at the primarily white school, finds himself alongside a black boy for once. I find it fascinating, the way that southgate connects the characters is amazing.

     The relationships of the three characters are amazing. The female teacher finds herself somewhat attracted to Mr. Washington. She also likes the black boy she teaches english to. She calls him "shy but full of thought" and Mr. Washington doesn't know how he feels about the kid exactly. Will it be awkward being the only two black people at the school? I really wanna know how the story develops. Also, the boy runs track. He is very good and Washington is one of the coaches. I also wanna see what friendships Jana (the female teacher) because she left cleveland out of nowhere. I wanna see how she develops as a character. So far she has made a few "friends" with her colleagues. They had brunch together but I still think it will be interesting what interactions southgate comes up with.

    I think Martha Southgate did a really great job taking a somewhat boring setting like an all boys boarding school in Connecticut and making a very intense story out of it. Although all the characters are related through the boarding school, I think they are also all related through a shooting. Washington's friend was killed in a hold up. The boy's older brother was also killed in a hold up, and the student that Jana liked was arrested in a holdup. Coincidence? I think not.

     I would definitely recommend this book. It is magnificent and very good. I can't wait to see how the characters develop even more and how their relationships change in new and even more complex ways like they have so far.

Reading Response, Non Fiction

Non Fiction Reading response
Henry Kiem
812

Psychological Challenges of a Manned Mission to Mars


     In this article about NASA's plans to send men to Mars, there are many psychological factors that NASA has to take into account. Researchers on mars will be very bored, feel isolated, and lonely. Those are just of the few problems they need to address before sending men to mars. I think that sending men to mars is a great idea and that is could prove a huge step for science. Even if they were lonely wouldn't they be busy doing research?

     I wonder why it is that NASA is worried about the crew members being lonely. The plan is to send two people up in a small space craft to research the surface of mars. Firstly, wouldn't the two people be busy at work? After all the are the first people to be sent to mars, I don't think they would be to worried about getting bored. Also, they do have a companion. It isn't like they are all alone in the middle of deep space. I think this is a great opportunity for NASA and I don't see why it is that the idea that the two astronauts up there would get bored is keeping them from doing it. In my opinion, go for it!

     Another reason I think they should send these people to the moon immediately instead of worrying about technology to keep them from being bored, is because that is a waste of time. I think the sooner a proposal to go to mars, the better. That way they aren't worrying the public. And a proposal doesn't necessarily mean "To Mars immediately!" It would still give them time to create "anti-boredom" technology if that's what some NASA executives mean. Either way, the soonera definite proposal for a mission to mars, the better.

     After reading, I defiantly think NASA should immediately get a plan together for a mission to mars. This is a huge step for science! We've heard it's possible now, why don't we just do it instead of worrying about boredom and lonliness. Either way, this mission will be very interesting to hear about and I can't wait to see what NASA decides.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/02/130227-manned-mission-mars-psychology-space-science/?source=hp_dl1_news_carnivorous_plants_2130228#

Reading Response 2/14

Reading Response
Henry Kiem, 812
Leaving the Bellweathers

     After reading Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti, I noticed there are a lot of really deep messages and characters. Benway, the family's butler is finally about to leave the family. This is because, his ancestor pledged his allegiance to a Bellweather for 200 years. This meant that the Benway's had to serve the Bellweathers for 200 years. Benway has a lot of emotion concerning the Bellweathers. For example, he is desperate to leave the family for a number of reasons. They are very rowdy  uncontrollable, and exciting characters that are extremely hard for Benway to deal with. However, even though he wants to leave, he also discusses his oath to the family a lot and he doesn't trust the new butler. He discusses all this through his journal. I think that Benway feels uncomfortable about leaving the family because he has served them for so long, but he also doesn't want to have to put up with them.


     Firstly, it is very obvious that Benway can not wait to be liberated from the family oath. He counts down to GLOAT as he calls it or Glorious Liberation and Oath Abandonment Time. This is when he will be free from the oath that binds him to the crazy Bellweather family. Also, he keeps sending away for tropical seeds for his tropical garden in his cozy cottage far far away from the lighthouse on the hill that the Bellweather family lives in. This shows how much he is looking forward to leaving the family. He is preparing for his life away from them. I think it is very interesting that all of his journals kind of follow the same format too. Each one summarizes what has happened in the past chapter and each one also talks about something he plans to do when he leaves the Bellweathers. For example, in one journal entry he talks about getting a parrot to keep him from being lonely. I think this is very interesting because it totally conflicts with the next point I make.


     Even though Benway wants to leave the Bellweathers, he also doesn't want to leave them in the hands of some joker. This means that Benway is hiring his own replacement to make sure they are in good hands. However, only one person responds to his advertisement. After meeting with the person multiple times Benway grows to like him less and less. Benway feels it is his oath to the family to keep them safe and orderly and he is afraid that the applicant isnt the right person for the job. This shows that Benway actually really cares about the Bellweathers and that he wants them to be ok after he leaves. He tells the applicant a little bit about each of the crazy children and parents but he doesn't seem to be phased. Benway genuinely cares about the family.


     I think that in the end, Benway may end up staying. He has spent the majority of his life with the Bellweathers and although he tries to deny it, he really cares about them. He will also soon find out that they care about him too even though it may not always seem like it. As the book goes on he grows more and more partial to the idea of staying at the lighthouse. I think that this book shows a great example of what family really means. Although Benway may have to clean up after the crazy family, and although it may seem like he is just the butler, he really is a part of the family.

Reading Response 1/31/13

Reading Response 1/31/13

Henry Kiem

Article: “The Bite That Heals” National Geographic Magazine

            “The Bite that heals” is a very interesting article about huge breakthrough in antivenom medicine and the medical potential it has. The article tells many stories about victims from venomous bites. One man, who goes by the pseudonym Michael, was bitten by one of the most venomous species in South America: a bark scorpion. Often victims of a bite like that of a bark scorpion die; however, with the use of particular antivenom he was fine after a day and a half. This is a huge breakthrough because it uncovers so many medical possibilities.

            The first reason this is a big breakthrough is because it eliminates the dangerous potential behind many venomous creatures. The story about Michael doesn’t end with the antivenom relieving the pain of the scorpion sting. In fact, Michael suffers from a chronic spinal condition, which causes a lot of pain. Here is the weird thing, after the scorpion sting, the pain hasn’t come back. If the venom from the scorpion actually caused his back pain to disappear, then what other medical capabilities do certain kinds of venom have? Michael is a doctor, and even though he doesn’t want to outright state that the scorpion sting removed the back pain, he does think that it may harness certain medical abilities that we are only just uncovering.

            The second big reason that venom is an important medical breakthrough is because of how many different venoms there are and how many uses there could be for all of them. The weird thing about many toxic venoms is that they are useful for the same reasons that they are helpful.  Most venom works like an enzyme. It locks into target molecules like a key. This is the same way most modern medicine works. Obviously, there is a connection between the two. If we could harness venom to control certain molecules, we could create more cures to diseases such as cancer and other autoimmune diseases.

            After reading, it is very obvious that there are so many new possibilities with venom. We need to harness more of these venoms to use as cures to many autoimmune diseases. We need to begin to research these toxins because right now we are just on the cusp of the uses to many of these amino acid strands that can both kill us, and heal us.

Westing Game RR

Reading Response
Henry Kiem
812



     The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is a magnificent classic. It is a highly inventive mystery that requires so much brainpower to comprehend, you can't help but read the book for hours on end. I love The Westing Game and this is the third or fourth time I am reading it. The characters are so amazing and the way that the author introduces them is so intriguing. I think that the major theme of this mystery is to explore information and how certain people interpret it. Throughout the book certain facts confuse people and others assume certain things that are entirely untrue. Throughout the book, people misinterpret information.

     The first reason that I think this book's theme is the ideas of misinterpretation and confusion is because of a certain chapter. In chapter four, "A Corpse Found", Turtle sneaks into the westing house and Doug Hoo times her. After possibly hearing her name, she runs out of the house screaming. Then, the next day, the newspaper pronounces Sam Westing dead. But Doug and Turtle are very confused because they have no idea how the body was found. Ellen Raskin creates so many possible story lines that you  have no idea what is about to happen next which is key to a mystery novel. In the case of chapter four, evidence that Turtle was in the house could be found which could lead to an accusation of murder. This book has so many possible stories going on and that is what makes it so interesting. That is why  I think the theme of this book is how misinterpretation can affect people and how confusion is creating such an interesting story.

     The second reason I think the theme of this book is misinterpretation is in chapter 7, "The Westing Will". In this chapter the Will of Samuel Westing is read to his 16 nieces. The will says that one of the sixteen took Samuel Westing's life. The will then tells them to "play the westing game" after a silent prayer. The Will is broken up into sections. FIRST, SECOND, and so on. This could be a code or a clue to what is really going on here. The fact that the will is telling people to do things as if it is in the present company of them also could be another clue as to who is who. You really don't know with this book!

     Finally, I definitely think the theme of this book is all about misinterpretation. I mean, the amount of confusion and misleading facts in this book is magnificent. I also think that this book is so great because it leaves even you assuming things along with the character. And by the end, when you find out what really happened, you think, how can that be! But after the explanation, it all makes sense.

Social Action Response: Goliath

   Henry Kiem

   812

   "Goliath" by Scott Westerfield

   "Goliath" by Scott Westerfield isa an amazing historical fiction book that draws you in and doesn't let go. This book. has social issues written all over it. I think that the most interesting  of these issues is actually the relationship between the two main characters, Alex and Deryn. Throughout the book these two characters are trying to save the world by solving mysteries and fighting enemy japanese and german soldiers. The book takes place in 1912 so social classes are definitely established.

   The first Social class issue I noticed was immediate in the book. Alex is a prince who could become Emperor of Austria Hungary because he has a letter from the emperor. Deryn is a common girl who is actually disguising herself as a boy so she can fight in the british air service. Already quite complex. But when you find out that Alex's assistant and councilor, Vulgar, doesn't want him to be friends with Deryn because she is a commoner they break into an argument. I think this happens all the time in real life. For example, when two cliques form even in middle school, usually friends are established within the group. This book shows issues like this all the time.

   But the story gets even more dramatic. When Alex finds out Deryn is a girl he is heart broken. He thought he had made a true friend but now that true friend had betrayed him. However, Deryn thinks she loves him and so at a extremely dramatic moment (on top of the giant flying whales back) she kisses him. Now you can imagine how many issues this causes. If the British captain finds out she gets kicked off the ship. If Vulgar finds out he will take Alex away from the Leviathon (there ship) and that would make both Alex and Deryn very sad. Again, stuff like this happens all the time in real life cliques.

   I think this book is a really great book because its heart throbbing and extremely addictive. You cant put it down; however, it also has a deeper message. Showing that it doesn't matter what people say outside of your friendship as long as you are comfortable.